I'm Sorry

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

About last night...

I just remembered a patient asked me for coffee. It was about 0600, and I promptly started a fresh pot for him.

I hope that he doesn't think that I forgot about him.

I did start the pot. Then a pt had an episode of hypoglycemia and another patients radiology report came back with a critical finding. Next, a patient began coughing up blood. Then there was a code blue on our floor.

I just remembered the patients coffee was never given by me. I hope he understands.

/Thoughts of a med-surg nurse/

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Yesterday a patient asked me for a cup of water. I looked around for help but there wasn't anyone around so I reluctantly walked down the hall to the watercooler and got it for him. But I wasn't happy about it.

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Specializes in OB.
You sound very kind, VM.

I had that type of shift last night.

Except it was with an ice cream sandwich.

And the patient kept ringing that call bell ...

And I couldn't get that sandwich fast enough for him ...

So he started hollering every 2 minutes, "I wannnnnnnnnnttttttttt thatttttttttt sanndddddddwichhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"

And I practically sent that sandwich sailing in the air toward his versacare :blink:....

VM: kind and compassionate

Pixierose: ready to bolt out the door

Umm...you have ICE CREAM SANDWICHES for patients at your hospital?! I would be obese within weeks!:D

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Farawyn said:
Where's mine?

878398772_farawynface.jpg.8036130eb4f491ebe004d9dc10bcf980.jpg

Now, haven't you already had one, Farawyn?

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[ATTACH=CONFIG]25418[/ATTACH]

Now, haven't you already had one, Farawyn?

*tinkles*

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I'm sorry that hospitals staff so poorly that nurses cannot do their jobs as they would wish to.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
Farawyn said:
Where's mine?

*Tosses yours across the school nurses office*

Catch!

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Specializes in ICU / Urgent Care.

Patient safety comes before comfort.

If I had critical values / hemoptysis / hypoglycemia / code blue occur on my shift, those would get addressed before patient comfort needs. I would kindly ask an aid to follow up on the coffee or whatever task then quickly erase it from my memory to allow full focus on the important tasks. Nursing is stressful already and I refuse to be reduced to feeling guilty over a pot of coffee. I go home knowing I did the best with what I had, and I sleep like a baby.

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vintagemother said:
Thank you all for your kind and supportive comments. ((hugs))

I know, in my rational mind, that the coffee was very low on the priority list. However, I have seen patients get upset when they don't receive things that they want (not need), right away.

And I truly completely forgot about his coffee until many hours after my shift ended.

I feel that the little things can cause a patient to feel better...I recall my last shift on my rotation the week before...the last thing I did was to make coffee, as well. In that situation, it was mid afternoon and the spouse was preparing to bring the patient home to basically provide end of life care.

That man loved his spouse so much and was so excited to bring the patient home and his love for his spouse was amazingly beautiful, but I don't think he understood the amount of care the patient would require at home. But his steadfast determination to try was admirable, to me. Sometimes, little things, like a cup of coffee, I think, can help a person feel better.

My original post was a way for me to express just some of my jumbled thoughts after an emotionally intense shift.

The coffee was the least important thing. I'd spoke with my manager and coworkers involved in the situations already. However, I suddenly remembered the coffee, much, much later.

PS Patient satisfaction scores are very important at my hospital, there's a huge emphasis on customer service.

You're just awesome. That's all I can say. (((HUGS))) !! Happy Holidays ?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Farawyn said:
Where's mine?
pixierose said:
*Tosses yours across the school nurses office*

Catch!

1375244177_flyingsaucer.png.ceebba97578eb667d0bc779f83133ac2.png

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
pixierose said:
*Tosses yours across the school nurses office*

Catch!

ics.jpg.3245f8b8b6a301a742194512447312a9.jpg

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Specializes in ED, psych.

Davey, your cartoons always make me smile!

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
pixierose said:
Davey, your cartoons always make me smile!

And your ice cream sandwiches add unnecessary calories to my diet, pixierose!

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